Tube flaring tool



Sept. 10, 1963 G. s. lsKYAN TUBE FLARING ToorJ Filed July 1 1960 MEE 'mima INVENTOR GEORGE s. usKYAN ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,103,245 TUBE FLARING TOOL George S. Iskyan, Freeport, N.Y. G.M. Co. Manufacturing, Inc., 13-08 43rd Ave., Long Island City 1,

Filed July 1, 1960, Ser. No. 40,352 3 Claims. (Cl. 153-79) This invention relates to an adjustable tube Haring tool which is adapted to are the ends of soft metal tubes of various sizes and wall thicknesses.

Tube flaring tools are well known to the art and are widely used. Essentially, such tools comprise two separate or separable components: The fir-st is a combination tube clamp and female die assembly; the second is a male die and clamp assembly. The two assemblies coact or cooperate with each other in the following way: A tube is clamped within a female die of the rst assembly. The second assembly is then clamped to the rst assembly, the male die engaging the tube. The male die i-s then pressed against the tube to flare it outwardly against the female die. When this is done, the two component assemblies are `detached from each other.

The second or m-ale die assembly is essentially a C- clamp. One arm (which may be bifurcated) supports the female ydie and tube clamping assembly. The other arm supports a screw to which the male die is connected. When pres-sure is applied by the male die to the tube in order to flare the end of the tube, a spreading stress is applied to |both arms of the C-clamp. The result in many cases is permanent distortion or even breakage of the C-clamp.

A disadvantage in the conventional flaring tool of the character -above described resides in the difficulty of accurately align-ing the male die with the tube. It will be understood that the tube holder is provided with a series of female dies, each of a different diameter and each adapted to receive a tube of corresponding diameter. To properly tiare a tube it is necessary to precisely align the flaring tool, which happens to be the male die, with the tube and the female die in which the tubehappens to be clamped. While the flaring operation may proceed even with a slight misalignment of the male and female dies, the result is a slight asymetrical tirare, out of axial alignment with the tube. In many cases such misalignment would have no significance; in some cases it would `While a C-clamp even vof relatively heavy and reinforced construction may be sprung or even fractured under severe strain, applicants U-shaped support can neither be sprung nor broken under normal stress conditions. Still another feature of the present invention resides in its vrotary female `die turrets, each turret being formed with a plurality of female die section-s of varying diameters. Corresponding female die sections of the two turrets coact to form a single female die. The female die turrets are so arranged relative to each other that no matter which die :sections lare joined to form a single female die, the longitudinal axis of such die remains constant. A cooperative feature of this invention resides in the means for aligning the flaring tool or male die with said female die axis. The U-shaped support for the male die is pivotally mounted on an axis which precisely intersects the female die laxis `at right angles, hence the male and female dies are always precisely aligned when said U- shaped support is swung into operation position. Even if there should be some slight degree of misalignment about the axis. of said U-shaped support, the force which brings the male die into flaring engagement with the tube will automatically swing the U-shaped bracket into die-aligning position.

The fact that-the present tool consists of a single assembly provides the obvious advantage of preventing a loss of parts. But there is another advantage in the present invention `and that is to enable the tool to be folded to relatively compact proportions for storage or carrying purposes. When the tool is in operation the U- shaped 4support for the male die is disposed at right angles to the support for the female die turrets. This makes for a rather awkward assembly which cannot conveniently be stored away in a tool box. When the"t`ool is not in operation, however, the U-shaped support may be folded into alignment with the female die turret support. A rather compact package results, suitable for storing' away or carrying to or from a job.

There `are many other feature-s and advantages in the present dev-ice over 'those ofV the prior art, not the least of which is the channel-shaped construction of the female die support. In conventional flaring tools the female die support comprises fa pair of relatively heavy bars machined at their facing sides to provide female die openings and provided with a pair of clamp screws to clamp the two bars together. In the present device a single channel supports the female die turrets and a single clamping screw is provided to clamp the female die turrets together.

The invention is illustrated .in the accompanying drawing, in which FIGURE l is a plan View of a flaring tool m-ade in accordance with said invention, the haring die and its U-shapedy support being shown in inoperative position in alignment wtih the die at the support.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section on the line 2--2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing the flaring `die and its U-shaped support in operative position, axially aligned with a tube clamped between the female die turrets.

FIGURE 4 is -a fragmentary bottom view of said tool.

Referring now to the details of the invention as illustrated in the drawing, it will be seen thata channelshaped base 10 is provided as the support for the entire device. Rotatably mounted on the yoke or web 12 of said channel-shaped base is a rst female die turret 14 and rotatably and slidably mounted thereon is a second female die turret 16. v More specifically, a bolt 18 extending through a hole 20 in said yoke or web 12 holds the first female die turret 14 in place on said ohannelshaped base while permitting it to rotate about the axis of said bolt. The scond Ifemale die turret 16 is held in place by means of a bolt 22 projecting through a longitudinally extending slot` 24 in the web or yoke 12 of said channel-shaped base.- Said female die turret 16 is free to rotate about the axis of bolt 22 but it is also movable longitudinally of the channel-shaped base along the length of slot 24. It will be observed in FIGURE 4 that said slot 24 is enlarged intermediate the two female die turrets in order. to for-m an opening 26 for a brass or copper tube 28 or the like. `Channel-shaped base 10 is provided with an upwardly projecting flange 30` at one end. A hole is formed in said flange and .a nut 32 is mounted in'said hole and prevented by conventional means from rotating therein. This may be accomplished by crimping or peening the nut to lthe flange or by any other suitable means, the object being to prevent relative angular or axial movement of the nut relative to the flange. A screw 34 is threaded through nut 32. The forward end of the screw carries a rectangular block 36 which rides against the web or yoke 12 of the channel-shaped base. The block is secured to the screw in such manner that the screw is free to rotate therein but axial dislodgement of the block relative to the screw is prevented. At the opposite end of the screw is a handle 318 by which rthe screw may be rotated.

`Closer inspection of turrets 14 and 16 will now disclose the fact that they are identical in size and configuration and each comprises a hexagonally-shaped block, each tace of which is concavely recessed or machined to Aform a female die section. As shown in PIG- URE 1 of the drawing, each hexagonal block is provided with die sections a, b, c, d, e and f, in that order. The sizes of these die sections may vary in accordance with individual requirements but as illustrated die section a is adapted to accommodate a 5/8" diameter tube, die section b a 3716" diameter tube, die section c a '1/2" diameter tube, die section d a 1A" diameter tube, die section e a 578 diameter tube and die section f a 716" diameter tube. When corresponding die sections are brought together, thus die `sections a, a complete die is formed. It will be observed that these die sections are beveled or tapered at their upper peripheral edges and it will be understood that these beveled or tapered edges constitute a taper or conical seat against which a tube may be flared.

When a tube such as tube 28 is inserted through opening 216 into the space between the two die turrets, it may be clamped between said turrets, and more particularly between corresponding die sections thereof, by means of clamp screw 34. This clamp screw is adapted to exert a clamping action through block 36 against turret 16, forcing it in the direction of and into engagement with the other die turret 14, thereby clamping tube 2S between t-he two turrets. It will of course be understood that both turrets may be rotated to bring each pair of corresponding die sectionsinto facing relationship, the diameter of the tube deter-mining which of said die sections are to be used.

A U-shaped supporting bracket 401 is pivotally secured at .the ends of its arms 42 and 44, respectively, to side flanges 9 and 11 of channel-shaped base 10. This may be done by means of rivets 46 or any other conventional means. A hole is formed in yoke 48 of said U-shaped supporting bracket 40 centrally thereof and mounted within said hole is a nut 50. Said nut is secured by crimping, peening or any other suitable means against angular or axial movement relative to said U-shaped supporting bracket. Nut 50 occupies a simi-lar position and performs a similar function in U-shaped supporting strap 40 as nut 32 occupies and performs in flange 30 of the channel-shaped base 10. A clamping screw 52 is threaded through nut 50. It is provided with a ball-shaped lower end 54 on which a conical tapering tool or male die 56 is rotatably and swivelly mounted. A-t the upper end of said screw is a handle 58 by which the screw may be rotated.

In order to use the present device, U-shaped supporting bracket 401 is swung upwardly from its solid-line position in FIGURE 2 to its dotted-line position therein, the latter being also the position which it is shown to occupy in FIGURE 3. Screw 52 is now axially aligned with tube 28 clamped between the two die turrets. By rotating the screw in the right direction flaring .tool or male die 56 is brought into aring engagement with the end of the tube. Should said screw 52 and its supporting U-shaped bracket 40 be tilted slightly out of alignment with said tube, the flaring pressure between said llaring tool 56 and lche upper end of .the tube will automatically center and align the screw. At the conclusion of a flaring operation .the flaring tool or die 56 may be retracted by turning screw 52 in the opposite direction. Similarly, turret 16 may be retracted, that is, removed from clamping engagement with the tube, by rotating screw 34 in the direction opposite the direction fin which it is rotated for the clamping action. Should it now be desired to store the tool out of the way, say in a tool box, the U-shaped supporting bracket 40 may be swung down into alignment with the channel-shaped base 10 as is shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

The foregoing is illustrative of a preferred form of the invention and it will be understood that modifications and variations may be incorporated therein without departing from the basic principles of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A tube flaring tool vof the character described, comprisingja longitudinally slotted horizontally disposed base plate having side and end flanges formed thereon, a pair of turrets mounted on said base plate for rotation about parallel Vertical axes, said turrets being held on said base plate by means of vertically extending bolts extending through the turrets and said base plate, one of said bolts projecting through the longitudinal slot of the base plate to enable the turret which it holds on said base plate to move slidably horizontally along said base plate toward and away from the other turret, each ot said turrets having a plurality of tube-receiving sections lof various sizes formed therein, flaring seats formed ion said tube-receiving sections, the tube-receiving sections 'of each turret being cooperable with the correspondingly sized tubereceiving sections of the other turret to receive tubes [of corresponding size between them, screw actuated clamping means mounted on the end ilange of said base plate [and engaging the sli-dable turret to clamp it against the second turret in order to securely hold a tube between them, a U-shaped support secured at its ends tothe side tianges of said base .plate for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis relative to said base plate, said U-shaped support being swingable into vertical position with its yoke centened above a tube clamped between said turrets, and a screw actuated flaring tool supported by said yoke for `eng-agement with said tube and adapted rto ilare the tube against the flaring seats of the tube-receiving sections in which said tube in clamped, said U-shaped support being also swingiable into horizontal position substantially in a common plane with the side flanges of the base in order to reduce the over-al1 dimensions of the tool tor storing purposes.

2. A tube Haring tool in accordance with claim 1, whenein each turret i-s provided with an even number of substantially llat faces, each tface 'of each turret being disposed in parallel relation to a diametrically opposite face on the same turret, said faces being arranged so that when one face of the slidable turret is ydisposed in abutment with the coresponding 'face of the other turret, the diametrically opposite face on the slidable turret is situated for engagement with the screw-actuated clamping means.

3. A tube flaring tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein the screw-actuated clamping means comprises a horizontally disposed screw, the longitudinal axis thereof intercepting the pivoted axes of the two turrets, a nut engaging said screw |and supported yon said base, a 4block mounted atv one end of said screw for engagement with the slidable turret, and an actuating handle connected to the opposite end of said screw.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,350,904 Walters Aug. 24, 1920 2,526,210 Edelmann Oct. 17, 1950 2,948,326 Ingwer Aug. 9, 1960 2,998,839 Ingwer Sept. 5, 1961 

1. A TUBE FLARING TOOL OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING A LONGITUDINALLY SLOTTED HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BASE PLATE HAVING SIDE AND END FLANGES FORMED THEREON, A PAIR OF TURRETS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE PLATE FOR ROTATION ABOUT PARALLEL VERTICAL AXES, SAID TURRETS BEING HELD ON SAID BASE PLATE BY MEANS OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING BOLTS EXTENDING THROUGH THE TURRETS AND SAID BASE PLATE, ONE OF SAID BOLTS PROJECTING THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL SLOT OF THE BASE PLATE TO ENABLE THE TURRET WHICH IT HOLDS ON SAID BASE PLATE TO MOVE SLIDABLY HORIZONTALLY ALONG SAID BASE PLATE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE OTHER TURRET, EACH OF SAID TURRETS HAVING A PLURALITY OF TUBE-RECEIVING SECTIONS OF VARIOUS SIZES FORMED THEREIN, FLARING SEATS FORMED ON SAID TUBE-RECEIVING SECTIONS, THE TUBE-RECEIVING SECTIONS OF EACH TURRET BEING COOPERABLE WITH THE CORRESPONDINGLY SIZED TUBERECEIVING SECTIONS OF THE OTHER TURRET TO RECEIVE TUBES OF CORRESPONDING SIZE BETWEEN THEM, SCREW ACTUATED CLAMPING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE END FLANGE OF SAID BASE PLATE AND ENGAGING THE SLIDABLE TURRET TO CLAMP IT AGAINST THE SECOND TURRET IN ORDER TO SECURELY HOLD A TUBE BETWEEN THEM, A U-SHAPED SUPPORT SECURED AT ITS ENDS TO THE SIDE FLANGES OF SAID BASE PLATE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID BASE PLATE, SAID U-SHAPED SUPPORT BEING SWINGABLE INTO VERTICAL POSITION WITH ITS YOKE CENTERED ABOVE A TUBE CLAMPED BETWEEN SAID TURRETS, AND A SCREW ACTUATED FLARING TOOL SUPPORTED BY SAID YOKE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TUBE AND ADAPTED TO FLARE THE TUBE AGAINST THE FLARING SEATS OF THE TUBE-RECEIVING SECTIONS IN WHICH SAID TUBE IN CLAMPED, SAID U-SHAPED SUPPORT BEING ALSO SWINGABLE INTO HORIZONTAL POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY IN A COMMON PLANE WITH THE SIDE FLANGES OF THE BASE IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE OVER-ALL DIMENSION OF THE TOOL FOR STORING PURPOSES. 